May 8, 2019
Toxics Use Reduction Institute Science Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
May 8th, 2019
DEP, 1 Winter Street, Boston
12 PM
Members present: Dave Williams (Chair), Robin Dodson (Vice Chair), Hilary Hackbart, Wendy Heiger-Bernays, Heather Lynch, Ken Weinberg
Members not present: Amy Cannon, Denise Kmetzo, Christy Foran, Chris Rioux
Program staff present: Liz Harriman (TURI), Heather Tenney (TURI), Lindsey Pollard (TURI), Rich Bizzozero (OTA)
Others present: Katherine Robertson (MCTA), Erin DeSantis (ACC), Jessica Bowman (ACC/Fluorocouncil), Steve Korziniowski (Fluorocouncil), Trisha McCarthy (Coyne PC for ACC), Carol Holahan (Foley Hoag ACC), Lauren Richter (Silent Spring)
Welcome and Introductions
Program Updates
Flame Retardants in Gyms case study published in Environment International
Champions of TUR event will be held June 13th at the Statehouse
Northeastern University is holding a PFAS conference June 10-12 https://www.northeastern.edu/environmentalhealth/upcoming-events/
MassDEP’s Suzi Peck is retiring at the end of May
GenX
Additional GenX CAS numbers listed in the March 2019 SVHC Annex XV report were reviewed. The SAB requested that the Hopkins 2018 paper (“Recently Detected Drinking Water Contaminants: GenX and Other Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Ether Acids.”) be added to the LibGuide. The options are to add additional salts or discuss this more later in the meeting during the discussion of degradation chains. The Hopkins conversation is a big one- members asked this to be put on a future agenda. Hopkins 2018 provides background info on GenX related chemicals and breakdown products. It was decided to take it up briefly during the degradation conversation today, and to also put on the agenda for the next meeting for further discussion.
ADONA
The Draft ADONA EHS was handed out and reviewed. Nearly all information comes from Gordon 2011 which covered a lot of endpoints. Some additional information came from REACH. Most of the study was done on 30% ADONA in water (e.g., therefore no flash point). TURI reached out to 3M to see if there was additional information beyond their Gordon 2011 paper – there was not. There is less monitoring and toxicity data than for the PFAS we have reviewed thus far. According to TURI’s conversation with 3M, ADONA is no longer being manufactured in USA, it is made in Asia. PFOA was a direct manufacturing product made by 3M. ADONA is supposed to be less hazardous because the fluorinated carbon chains are shorter (separated by oxygen).
A visitor questioned why we are talking about ADONA if it is not made here. It is unclear whether it is being used in MA since there are currently no reporting requirements and it may not be listed on an SDS. We are looking at a range of PFAS substances in this class of chemicals.
There are a number of studies in the REACH registration dossier, but you have to drill down to get to them. It was noted that it would be helpful if TURI pulled that REACH data detail into a separate document and put it on the LibGuide.
Phosphonic/Phosphinic Acids
The EHS Summary for phosphonic and phosphinic acids was distributed. There is not a lot of information on these PFAS. A couple key studies are on the LibGuide. They are more similar to PFOS/PFOA with acute toxicity, at least for the C4 substance. It was requested that TURI look for data backing up the LD50. Wang 2016 cited C4, while NICNAS refers only to C6-C12. Wang referenced ECHA for the LD50, but the link to the ECHA study is broken. TURI will look for the primary source. Liver effects are noted.
Range of Perfluorinated Substances
TURI provided specific degradation chain examples for some of the general pathways provided by the Fluorocouncil in their webinar presentation. A visitor noted that in the case of GenX fluoride transforming to the deprotonated HFPO-DA, it is hydrolysis rather than degradation. Conversion could be a more appropriate term. GenX is stable in the environment.
- First page of halide examples is confusing, it was suggested to put a line on the page to separate examples
- PFPeA is shown in the fluorotelomer example as one potential breakdown product from 6:2 FTAB (Trouborst 2016). A visitor noted that historically its presence in the environment was from an impurity from the 3M ECF process for hexane sulfonate (PFHxS).
- It was noted that the Norwegian Environmental Study shows PFBS and PFHxS precursors. TURI is doing more research on precursors over the summer. It is important to make sure companies know the terminal degradation products of the substances they are using.
- It is valuable to step back and look at categories since moving from one alternative to another may result in regrettable substitutions.
- During spring outreach activities, TURI asked companies if they are using perfluorinated substances. Many were unsure as the substances aren’t necessarily identified on SDSs, but some are testing effluent to check.
- TURI will review literature for additional different conversion pathways (e.g., for different media, aerobic, anaerobic, biotic, abiotic, thermal, hydrolysis, and photolysis). A visitor commented that landfills are a legitimate area of inquiry.
- A European paper shows chemicals do get mineralized when incinerating solid waste in properly operated incinerators, but not at lower temperatures. (Add Aleksandrov 2019 WL Gore study to the LibGuide).
Minutes
The minutes were unanimously approved with the following amendments:
- Move GenX title down
- Change wording 3rd paragraph of GenX discussion: “some papers tried to identify effects” to “It was unclear whether effects were adaptive or adverse”
- Change wording in 4th paragraph of GenX discussion: “there don’t appear to be” to “there do not appear to be”
Next Meeting
TURI is trying to schedule June 18 or 19th for the next meeting.
Handouts:
-Updated EHS Summary PFPA and PFPiA for the MA TURA Science Advisory Board Meeting – March 18, 2019
-Updated EHS Summary ADONA for the MA TURA Science Advisory Board Meeting – May 8, 2019
- ECHA 2019 SVHC: Annex XV Report pages 10-16
-TURI 2019: Degradation Examples for ACC Fluorocouncil Webinar Degradation Paths
- Norwegian Environmental Agency Potential PFBS and PFHxS Precursors